Sterling College (VT)
IN-25: Innovation B

Sterling College recently finished a complete remodel of its kitchen, the first since the kitchen was constructed in 1962. Sterling was awarded a $91,674 matching grant by the USDA Rural Development mission area to enhance its kitchen facility and to expand its outreach to rural Northeast Kingdom communities. Sterling matched 51% of the USDA funds from an anonymous donor. The remodel was begun in December of 2016 and was finished in time for the Spring semester of January 2017. The remodel allowed for robust, energy-efficient equipment to be installed. The previous equipment was well over 20 years old (some even older); the current equipment is all Energy-Star rated. The new equipment has thermostatic equipment, which allows for precise temperature controls, which results in greater efficiency for fuel & energy use. The new equipment also allows the Kitchen to batch process food, which will also allow for more energy efficient use of equipment. The old equipment was repurposed on campus when available, or made available to organizations & individuals in the community. None of the old equipment was junked or sent to the landfill. New tiles were laid directly over old linoleum, meaning no flooring was sent to the landfill; the kitchen footprint was designed carefully so that taking out drywall and waste was kept to the bare minimum.